Golf Magazine


Golf Magazine is a monthly golf magazine. It was started in April, 1959 by Universal Publishing and Distributing, who sold it to Times Mirror in 1972. Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was acquired by Howard Milstein in 2018. It was the world's most widely read golf publication from August 2006 to January 2007. The magazine is for golfers of all skill levels. Some features it includes are instruction from the top 100 teachers in America, interviews with famous golfers, tips on the best values for golf courses to go to on vacation, and an annual club test.

Top 100 courses

Golf Magazine conducts an annual survey of experts to determine the best course in the United States and the world.

Top 100 in the United States

The best courses in the United States in 2007 were:
RankNameLocationDesigner, Year
1Pine ValleyPine Valley, New JerseyGeorge Crump/Harry Colt, 1918
2Cypress PointPebble Beach, CaliforniaAlister MacKenzie, 1918
3Augusta NationalAugusta, GeorgiaAlister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933
4Pebble BeachPebble Beach, CaliforniaJack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919
5Shinnecock HillsSouthampton, New YorkWilliam Flynn, 1931
6OakmontOakmont, PennsylvaniaHenry Fownes, 1903
7Merion Ardmore, PennsylvaniaHugh Wilson, 1912
8Sand HillsMullen, NebraskaBill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1994
9Pacific DunesBandon, OregonTom Doak, 2001
10National Golf Links of AmericaSouthampton, New YorkCharles B. Macdonald, 1911

Top 100 in the world

Here are the top ten courses in the world:
RankNameLocationCountryDesigner, Year
1Pine ValleyPine Valley, New JerseyUnited StatesGeorge Crump/Harry Colt, 1918
2Cypress PointPebble Beach, CaliforniaUnited StatesAlister MacKenzie, 1918
3St Andrews St AndrewsScotlandNature
4Augusta NationalAugusta, GeorgiaUnited StatesAlister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933
5Pebble BeachPebble Beach, CaliforniaUnited StatesJack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919
6Shinnecock HillsSouthampton, New YorkUnited StatesWilliam Flynn, 1931
7Royal County DownNewcastle, County DownNorthern IrelandTom Morris, 1889
8MuirfieldGullaneScotlandTom Morris/Harry Colt, 1891/1925
9OakmontOakmont, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesHenry Fownes, 1903
10Merion Ardmore, PennsylvaniaUnited StatesHugh Wilson, 1912

Many countries had courses in the top one hundred, including:
CountryCourses
United States52
Scotland11
England10
Australia6
Ireland4
Japan4
Canada3
New Zealand2
Northern Ireland2

Club Test 2007

Golf Magazine also conducts an annual test of some of the finest golf products available so that the golfer will be armed with the knowledge of which club is the best value. Winners in each category were:
Club TypeNameManufacturerPercent rating 1
Driverr7 DrawTaylorMade84
Game-Improvement Iron 2775.CBTitleist83.3
HybridBaffler DWSCobra85
Maximum Game-Improvement Iron 3r7 DrawTaylorMade87.8
Fairway WoodBig BerthaCallaway85
Better-Player Iron 4Carbon CBCobra87.8
WedgeVokey Spin MilledTitleist89
PutterBlack Series #1Odyssey86.7

Notes
Golf Magazine also honours some of the best instructors in the business. On the emeritus list are:
NameHometown
Jimmy BallardKey Largo, Florida
Peggy Kirk BellSouthern Pines, North Carolina
Chuck CookAustin, Texas
Manuel de la TorreRiver Hills, Wisconsin
Michael HebronSmithtown, New York
David LeadbetterChampions Gate, Florida
Eddie MerrinsLos Angeles, California
Dave PelzAustin, Texas
Phil RitsonWinter Garden, Florida
Phil RodgersLa Jolla, California
Craig ShanklandDaytona Beach, Florida
Dr. Jim SuttieNaples, Florida
Bob ToskiCoconut Creek, Florida
Dr. Gary WirenWest Palm Beach, Florida

2011 player of the year selection

On November 1, 2011, Golf Magazine selected Rory McIlroy over Yani Tseng for its 2011 player of year. The magazine's editor, David Clarke wrote, “We are pleased to name Rory McIlroy as our inaugural Player of the Year.” Americans have embraced this young Northern Irishman, taking him into their hearts not just out of admiration for his amazing talent, but also for the grace he has shown in victory and defeat, his generosity of time with fans, and his commitments to causes beyond golf.”
The McIlroy selection was heavily criticized by golf bloggers. The #1 male player in the world at the time, Luke Donald, tweeted, "So rude and disrespectful of Yani. Whoever had final decision just diminished your magazine."